Relocating to Sharjah: fees, property and free zones

The short answer

What does it cost to relocate to Sharjah?

The official property transfer fee in Sharjah is n/a, there is no personal income tax, and 3 free zones are listed for the emirate. Housing fees, ownership rules and the schools regulator are set out below with their sources.

Evidence: Official source · Machine-readable data · As of 30 October 2026

Emirate rules

What applies in Sharjah

Each rule below is read from the competent Sharjah or federal authority on the date shown.

Residence visa authority: Residence visa applications for Sharjah are tracked through the federal ICP.
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Schools regulator: Private education in Sharjah is regulated by the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA).
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Courts: Sharjah follows the federal court system overseen by the Ministry of Justice.
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Land department: Real estate and usufruct rights in Sharjah are registered with the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department.
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Free zones

Free zones in Sharjah

Free zones in Sharjah
Free zone	Emirate	Focus	VAT designated zone	Common-law courts
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority	Sharjah	Hamriyah Free Zone describes its focus as: industrial and trade (oil and gas, manufacturing, maritime, logistics, food).	Yes	No
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone	Sharjah	SAIF Zone offers company set-up, offices, warehouses, land and a jewellery manufacturing park.	Yes	No
Sharjah Media City (Shams)	Sharjah	Sharjah Media City (Shams) describes its focus as: media and creative industries.	No	No

VAT designated zone: listed by the Federal Tax Authority, so certain supplies within or between such zones are treated as outside the UAE for VAT. Common-law courts: DIFC and ADGM run their own courts. Licence and setup fees are set by each zone and are not shown.

Federal rules

Federal rules that apply here too

Tax and residence rules are federal and apply in every emirate.

Personal income tax: The UAE does not levy personal income tax on individuals.
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Corporate tax: In 2026 the UAE federal corporate tax rate is 9 per cent on taxable income above AED 375,000.
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Corporate tax threshold: Taxable income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0 per cent and income above it at 9 per cent.
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Qualifying free-zone income: A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0 per cent corporate tax on its qualifying income.
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Qualifying Free Zone Person rules: In 2026 a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other income, provided non-qualifying revenue stays within the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5 million.
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VAT: The UAE standard VAT rate in 2026 is 5 per cent.
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Back to the emirate overview · Methodology and sources

Questions

Living in Sharjah: common questions

What is the property transfer fee in Sharjah?

This has not yet been verified from an official Sharjah source. Ask the emirate land department for the current position.

Can foreigners own property in Sharjah?

This has not yet been verified from an official Sharjah source. Ask the emirate land department for the current position.

Which free zones are in Sharjah?

We list 3 free zones in Sharjah from the official UAE register; the table on this page names each with its focus.

Can I live in one emirate and work in another?

Yes. Residence, employment and company licensing are separate. Many residents live in one emirate and work or hold a licence in another; your visa follows your sponsor or your Golden Visa, not your address.

Information, not tax, legal or immigration advice. UAE fees and rules change by decision without long notice; confirm the current position with the authority named before you act. Free-zone licence and setup fees are not shown because each zone sets and changes them.

Relocating to Sharjah: property, fees, schools and free zones